Community-led Leadership for Urban Youth: Food-Based Learning and Rites of Passage for Transformation

Authors

  • Barney Walsh Dr Barney Walsh is a Senior Lecturer in Security, Leadership and Development Education at the African Leadership Centre (ALC), King�s College London.
  • Darren Springer Darren Springer, also known as Darren Le Baron, is a world-renowned educator in Ethnomycology and Psychedelic studies.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47697/lds.39390008

Keywords:

Urban Youth, Experiential Learning, Rites of Passage, Transformative Education

Abstract

Research shows that urban youth in the UK face educational challenges linked to poverty, structural inequalities, and environments.[1] Programmes providing different experiential learning opportunities can potentially engage these learners more effectively than traditional education settings.

[1] Arya, Dena, and Matt Henn. "The impact of economic inequality and educational background in shaping how non-activist Standby youth in London experience environmental politics." Educational Review 75, no. 1 (2023): 93-114.; Dorling, Danny, David Egan, Kevin Lowden, Stuart Hall, Stephen Mckinney, Erik Cownie, and Ruth Leitch. Poverty in education across the UK: A comparative analysis of policy and place. Policy Press, 2020.

Author Biographies

Barney Walsh, Dr Barney Walsh is a Senior Lecturer in Security, Leadership and Development Education at the African Leadership Centre (ALC), King�s College London.

Dr Barney Walsh is a Senior Lecturer in Security, Leadership and Development Education at the African Leadership Centre (ALC), Kings College London. He is programme convenor of the MSc Global Leadership and Peacebuilding. He is also a mentor on the various ALC Fellowship programmes. Barney holds a BA degree in History and Sociology (international) from Leeds University and MA in International Relations from King's. In 2016 he was the first ever graduate of the PhD Leadership Studies with reference to Security and Development programme at ALC-Kings, where he has worked as Faculty since.

Barney has published several peer-reviewed articles in accredited journals, on topics such as Regional Security Complex Theory in Africa, Human Security in East Africa, African Agency and Security issues within China-Africa relations. He has also organised and overseen numerous academic conferences and symposiums. Barney has lived, travelled and worked across Africa, and undertaken field work research in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and South Africa. His research interests include Leadership Studies; East African Security and Political Economy; African Global Relations; and Indigenous Cultural Practices. Email: [email protected]

Darren Springer, Darren Springer, also known as Darren Le Baron, is a world-renowned educator in Ethnomycology and Psychedelic studies.

Darren Springer, also known as Darren Le Baron, is a world-renowned educator in Ethnomycology and Psychedelic studies. Based in the UK and the Caribbean he is also a grassroots community activist and influencer. With a background in Creative Arts, Organic Horticulture and Permaculture, he is the creator of the Shroomshop, a Mushroom Cultivation initiative that engages local communities, schools and business enterprises alike. Collectively his work aims to inform and empower individuals from diverse backgrounds to cope with social challenges and contribute to community development as well as self-improvement in an innovative, creative, culturally-aware style.

He is a member and presenter at the London Psychedelic Society, a chair and Breaking Convention committee member. He is also a regular presenter at the Detroit Psychedelic Conference, All Things Fungi, Ozora, Noisily and Lightning in a Bottle Festivals, as well as numerous gatherings around the world sharing his extensive research on psychedelics and how they can help support humanity in the here and now. He is also an Organic Horticulturist and Permaculture tutor who supports schools, businesses and so called hard to reach communities around the world to create holistic and sustainable working systems. More details and contact information can be found at https://www.darrenlebaron.com/

LDS-Vol-11-No-1-2026

Downloads

Published

2026-03-11

How to Cite

Walsh, B., & Springer, D. (2026). Community-led Leadership for Urban Youth: Food-Based Learning and Rites of Passage for Transformation. Leadership and Developing Societies, 11(1), 85–95. https://doi.org/10.47697/lds.39390008

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 1 (2026)

Section

PRACTICE OF LEADERSHIP